Writer Sarah Aboobacker wins plagiarism case
Mangaluru: Noted Kannada writer Sarah Aboobacker has won a legal battle against the makers of the 2011 national award-winning film 'Byari,' which she claimed was based on her much-acclaimed novel 'Chandragiriya Teeradalli.'
'Byari,' the first film in Beary language, directed by K P Suveeran and produced by Altaf Hussain, had won the Swarna Kamal for best film at the 59th national film awards.
Hussain also plays a character in a prominent role in the film.
She had moved the court against the film's producer and director saying the movie makers had used her story without permission.
Upholding her contention, the third additional district and sessions court here in its judgement directed Altaf Hussain, the producer, not to screen the movie anywhere henceforth.
The Judge B Muralidhar Pai noted that there was an infringement of her intellectual property rights.
It also directed the film makers to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh with interest for the period of trial in the case (eight years and 12 days) along with court costs.
The writer, in a press note here said her novel was published as a serial in 'Lankesh Patrike' and had been widely read with passion and much debated.
The brazen act of the film-makers in using her novel for the film without taking permission forced her to approach the court for justice, she said.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
